January 26

100 years ago: Composer Jimmy Van Heusen was born as Edward Chester Babcock on January 26, 1913, in Syracuse, NY. At age 16, he adopted his on-air radio announcer name, inspired by the Van Heusen shirtmaker. He attended Cazenovia College and Syracuse University, worked in Tin Pan Alley, then wrote songs for Hollywood movies in the 1940s and ‘50s, including "Swinging on a Star" (1944). With lyricist Sammy Cahn he wrote "Love and Marriage" (1955), "All the Way" (1957), "Come Fly with Me" (1957), "High Hopes" (1959), and "Call Me Irresponsible" (1963). Several of his songs became titles of albums by Frank Sinatra, a close friend of Van Heusen’s. He composed more than 800 songs, including "Here's That Rainy Day," "I Thought About You," "Moonlight Becomes You," "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)," "Personality" and "Polka Dots and Moonbeams." Pictured with Sammy Cahn.